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Brad Biggs
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Now that the Senior Bowl is in the books, what’s to be had for #Bears at No. 20 in draft in terms of linemen?

I asked one scout who has been good to me with information in the past how many linemen he thought would come off the board before the Bears select in an interesting conversation today. Check here for more info a little while later.

“Before 20?” the scout said. “I’d say three (linemen are drafted). Luke Joeckel (Texas A&M), Eric Fisher from Central Michigan and then it’s a toss-up between Jonathan Cooper (North Carolina guard), Chance Warmack (Alabama guard) and the Travis Frederick kid (center) from Wisconsin. Frederick is not catching a lot of steam right now but you watch what happens. In the next three, four weeks, Frederick will get a lot of steam.”

Would Lane Johnson, the Oklahoma offensive tackle who needs to add some bulk, be a good fit for the Bears at No. 20?

“You gotta remember that kid was a quarterback just a few years ago,” the scout said. “He’s still growing into that frame. He’s not the finished product but he is plenty good enough to play left tackle. He could be a legit pick at 20. It depends on the need of other teams, in terms of linemen, but the way it looks to me right now, the Bears should have no problem getting a tackle or a guard.”

What about the talent overall in this draft?

“Oh yeah, I think it is really pretty solid almost all the way through the first two rounds – the top 60 picks or so,” the scout said. “I am talking about the whole draft, not just offensive linemen. You’re going to get a solid player all the way through the top 60 and then after that you better do your work.”
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I've been on the Frederick hype train for a while now, thought he was up there with Coop/Warmack for the top OG spot.

Absolute mauler, he's another one of those guys thats just absolutely an instant run game, though not a real fit for a zone system, unless its similar to what Wiscy runs, where its a true power zone. Watch him in 2011 especially where he's at his better OG spot, he's consistently driving guys 5 yards off the ball. He was the better OG that year, and Zeitler went 20th overall IIRC. While he's not a great strait line speed guy, he's very comfortable in space and is agile when pass blocking. Really solid technique, but obviously due to size, will struggle vs. quicker 3 tech types. Has the versatility to play every interior OL spot and is absolutely NFL ready with technique/strength/agility.

I've been on the Frederick hype train for a while now, thought he was up there with Coop/Warmack for the top OG spot.

Absolute mauler, he's another one of those guys thats just absolutely an instant run game, though not a real fit for a zone system, unless its similar to what Wiscy runs, where its a true power zone. Watch him in 2011 especially where he's at his better OG spot, he's consistently driving guys 5 yards off the ball. He was the better OG that year, and Zeitler went 20th overall IIRC. While he's not a great strait line speed guy, he's very comfortable in space and is agile when pass blocking. Really solid technique, but obviously due to size, will struggle vs. quicker 3 tech types. Has the versatility to play every interior OL spot and is absolutely NFL ready with technique/strength/agility.

I base my Frederick love more on his guard play. I also just really like interior OLmen from Wisconsin. But then who doesn't. I think he'd do fine at center but as a guard in a power scheme I think he'll quickly become a top 5 guy. Duffman covered a lot of it but he is also very smart. His combo of size, power, versatility, and intelligence is what makes him such a good prospect IMO.

Pioli ranks Texas A&M tackle Luke Joeckel as the top underclassman eligible for the 2013 draft, calling him a “strong candidate” to be selected first overall. Pioli’s former team, of course, holds the No. 1 pick.

Alabama cornerback Dee Milliner, Florida defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd, Florida State defensive end Bjoern Werner, and Ohio State defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins make up the rest of Pioli’s top five.

Alabama running back Eddie Lacy is sixth, and Pioli envisions him as an “every-down back” in the NFL with “low mileage” after playing behind Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson his first two seasons.

Pioli ranks Texas A&M tackle Luke Joeckel as the top underclassman eligible for the 2013 draft, calling him a “strong candidate” to be selected first overall. Pioli’s former team, of course, holds the No. 1 pick.

Alabama cornerback Dee Milliner, Florida defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd, Florida State defensive end Bjoern Werner, and Ohio State defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins make up the rest of Pioli’s top five.

Alabama running back Eddie Lacy is sixth, and Pioli envisions him as an “every-down back” in the NFL with “low mileage” after playing behind Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson his first two seasons.

I forget where I read it, but I saw that you don't want Frederick at C if you are a team that likes mobility at that position... and that he'll probably end up at Guard in the NFL.

Agree or disagree?

If your putting Frederick at C, you have to be a power man system...

Teams like Baltimore, San Fran, Chicago, Minesota, all run this type of scheme. But teams like Wash, Seattle, NE, Houston should look elsewhere for a C, but he could be a OG i think in those schemes, while it wouldn't be his best fit, it wouldn't be a bad one either.